Hutto residents are concerned after finding water buildup in water filters and discolored water

Hutto, Texas – Some residents in Hutto, in the Glenwood neighborhood, are concerned about discoloration of their water. Some say their water sometimes comes out yellow and others report their water filters have turned from white to brown.

Perry Savard is one of those residents of the Glenwood neighborhood.

About a year ago, she installed her first water filter in her Hutto home after dealing with strange tastes and odors.

“I was expecting something, but not this,” he said.

It’s now on its fourth filter, which turned brown in about a week.

“It looks like clay, doesn’t it?” Savard said. “It’s supposed to be white.”

Occasionally you also see discoloration of the water.

“Sometimes, every now and then, the water comes out discolored, but if you let it run, it comes out fine, but there are other things that aren’t right,” Savard said.

Other residents of the Glenwood neighborhood, who did not want to appear on camera, shared photos of their water turning yellow and water filters that had also turned brown.

“I think we’re being ripped off on water,” Savard said. “It’s horrible. I don’t even want to shower with that water.”

FURTHER WILLIAMSON COUNTY NEWS:

No one from the city of Hutto was available for an interview, but city officials pointed to iron as the primary cause of the discoloration.

“Before we disinfect the water, we inject a chemical that binds to the iron and neutralizes its presence,” a city official said in a video explaining why residents may see unclear water.

The city says sometimes when there is new construction or a break in the line, the iron is more likely to make its presence known.

“Sediment in the pipes may become agitated and take on a reddish color,” the city said. “While the discoloration may be concerning, it is perfectly safe to use as usual.”

However, that explanation does not convince Savard.

“I was born at night, but I wasn’t born last night,” Savard said.

Instead, he would like to see more action.

“I would like to see them speed up the construction of that refill station or whatever they’re putting in,” Savard said. “I would like to see them seriously look into replacing the water supply lines that come into our homes. Those iron pipes need to be replaced or whatever, but I don’t think it’s been done in a long, long time.”

The City of Hutto sent the following statement to FOX 7 Austin:

“The City has heard the community’s concerns regarding the recent discoloration of the water. We want to assure residents that the water remains safe to drink. The discoloration is due to traces of iron from our groundwater sources, which, while not harmful, can cause aesthetic issues.

Our team is proactively addressing these concerns by cleaning water distribution lines, improving chemical treatment processes, and responding quickly to customer reports. We are also investing in a capital improvement project to implement a more effective iron removal process. All new water sources expected to come online in the next two years will undergo similar treatment to remove iron, ensuring the best water quality for our residents.

These discoloration events are typically triggered during maintenance repairs, but are controlled by routine system flushing.

We remain committed to providing safe and reliable drinking water and will continue to inform the community about our progress. For more information, Please watch this video.”

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality requires cities to follow a monthly flushing schedule to keep water clean, which Hutto says he is following.

Residents can also report water discoloration here.